The MRP is again dominating the news on Monday, with Friday night's incident tipped to see Lake charged with misconduct and the matter sent directly to the AFL Tribunal.
The Hawks defender wrestled Petrie, his direct opponent, to the ground and then appeared to choke him.
The North Melbourne spearhead reacted by desperately grabbing Lake's face, leaving a cut near his left eye.
Petrie's actions have polarised footy opinion, with some calling for him to be suspended, while others argue Petrie had to fight back in self defence.
Lake has been widely condemned for his crude manoeuvrer will almost certainly be rubbed out for multiple weeks.
However, should it choose to follow its set of rules governing the MRP, the AFL could also come down hard on Petrie because self defence is not usually a viable justification.
Petrie would be better served if the incident heads to the tribunal – where decisions are not necessarily based on the unbending MRP formula and logic can prevail.
The incident has similarities to Barry Hall’s infamous 2010 choke hold on North Melbourne backman Scott Thompson.
Hall applied a headlock on a helpless Thompson in retaliation for being knocked over as he was tying his bootlaces.
Both players escaped suspension.
In 2009, Carlton's Chris Judd received three weeks suspension for his "pressure point" application to Michael Rischitelli’s face in 2009.
If the tribunal or MRP determine Lake's act was equal to or worse than Judd's, he could receive at least a three-week suspension.
Lake has 37.5 carryover points remaining from his hit on Michael Walters in last year's grand final.
After Friday's match Petrie said Lake's choker hold was so fierce that he "was nearly asleep".
On Sunday, he tried to downplay the incident. But the match review panel could disregard both players' evidence if they believe they are manipulating evidence to protect each other.
"In the beginning, I'm certainly getting involved in the scuffle, no denying that," Petrie told Channel Nine's Footy Show.
"He had a bit of sleep in the corner of his eye, I was trying to get that out of his eye and help him.
"I think I was just going to grab something, because he had me (and) I wanted to grab him in some part of his body.
"I grabbed his face - I didn't mean to gouge or scratch him."
Petrie insists he holds no grudge against Lake.
"I'm okay with it - (it's a) physical game and things happen," he said.
"We both got up and played on, no-one was hurt.
"I'm comfortable with how the events played out."